by Lee, Judith
Justin smiled, reliving his memories of his daughter being born. “That’s an easy one, her mother was born in Makon, Georgia and I was lucky enough to find her and steal her away to Wyoming. She missed the south but said she never wanted to live anywhere else but our ranch in Wyoming. So when Georgia was born, I wanted her to have a piece of the south with her forever so we named her Georgia.”
“Dad that story always makes me cry,” she wiped her fingers under her eyes.
“Well maybe your daughter can move to the south and get a job there. You spent enough money on her education for her to become a Doctor and she hasn’t even used her degree yet,” Sharon snapped and she got up and stormed out of the restaurant.
“I’m sorry,” Dakota said, “I didn’t mean to…”
“Hell, you didn’t know. I’m sure you have guessed that my new wife and I aren’t seeing eye to eye on things right now,” he looked at Georgia. “I think I made a big mistake with this marriage and I’m going to have to rectify it soon. Things are going to have to change or…” he ran his big hands through his hair. “I don’t want you to think you aren’t welcome home, and you can bring Dakota anytime, too. The ranch is as much of your home as it is mine. We’ve worked hard together to make it successful.”
“Sir, I think I’ll leave and give you and your daughter some alone time before you go home,” he got up to leave, but Justin grabbed his arm.
“Stay Dakota… I have a feeling you are going to be in my daughter’s life even if she hasn’t figured it out yet and you should know what’s happening.”
Dakota looked at Georgia for her permission. “Please stay,” she said. He reluctantly sat back down.
“When you told me to start dating, I didn’t want to look for someone who was like your mother. I knew I could never replace her, and somehow I ended up thinking with my dick… pardon me, darlin, I mean…thinking with other parts of my body and not my heart.”
She blushed but reached over and held her dad’s hand. “Are you sure dad? Maybe I am getting between you two and I haven’t given you a chance to smooth out the rough edges. I’m sure all new marriages go through problems. I wouldn’t want you to leave her because of me.”
“I think I knew things weren’t so good about a week into the marriage when she started pushing for me to adopt her son so he could run the ranch, and she started remodeling and buying new furniture without even consulting me.”
Dakota kept quiet. He thought it took a lot of guts for Justin to realize and admit he had made such a monumental fuck up. Looking at Georgia holding her father’s hand made him realize that she was the woman he wanted to keep forever. Oh his dick was screaming that he wanted her, but he mostly saw what a kind heart she had. He knew she would have sacrificed her happiness for her father. Dakota wanted that same kind of loyalty and love for him.
After her father said good bye and left, Georgia sat there quietly sipping a new cup of coffee. Dakota took a deep breath, “You okay, hon?”
“Yeah, I think so. When I was going to CSU in Fort Collins to get my dual bachelor’s degrees in animal science and biology, it wasn’t so bad because I would go home often, or dad and mom would come and watch at one of my rodeo events. When mom died we needed each other. I wanted to quit school but dad wouldn’t let me.”
“Georgia, how did your mom die?”
She started crying and laid her head on Dakota’s shoulder. “Some days it seems like it happened yesterday. I was home on summer break. We were riding out to see where dad was repairing fences when a rattle snake spooked our horses. She was thrown. It took me forever to find my dad so we could get help for her. When we finally got her to the hospital they said she was in a coma.”
Dakota’s heart broke for her. His own father’s loss was so recent he knew exactly how she felt. He ran his fingers through her hair. “It’s okay you don’t have to talk about it.”
“I don’t mean to bring back sad memories for you, too,” Georgia whispered.
“A really smart woman told me I needed to just take it a day at a time. We can do this together.” He reached for her hand.
He loved the way she turned to him and held him. He wanted to be there for her.
“She was in a coma for a month. During that time the physical therapists came and worked with her legs and upper body. They showed me how I could help her do the exercises. I liked doing that for my mom. It made me feel closer to her,” she took a deep breath. “She passed away one morning before dad and I had got back to the hospital.”
He just held her and whispered how sorry he was.
After a few moments she got her control back. “It was a blessing, I guess. She didn’t suffer. After things settled down a little, I told my dad I wanted to become a PT. I told him once I got my degree I could work in Casper and still help him run the ranch when I wasn’t working.”
“You can still do that, right?” he asked.
“Yes. I went to Creighton to get my doctor’s degree. It’s like four years of schooling all crammed into three years including summers and internships. I felt so bad about leaving my dad alone that I kept encouraging him to start dating again. Boy was I selfish. I should have quit and went home and taken care of him. He was so devastated and all I could think about was getting my education.” She rubbed her knuckles over her eyes.
Dakota knew she was blaming herself for Sharon and her dad getting together. “He wouldn’t let you quit, would he?”
“No. My mom and dad had saved all my life so I could get an education.”
After a few quiet moments he said, “I think we all handle death in a different way. I know I threw myself into the rodeo because I didn’t want to be at the ranch. When I was there it was like I had an open wound. Getting away helped. Thinking about the incredible time I had with you helped. It was like you came into my life at just the right time and brought me sunshine.”
He took her hand and they walked. They had no destination; they just wanted to be together. “So why is today the first day you told me that you were a doctor? Holy smart woman.”
She laughed, “If you remember in Cheyenne, we didn’t do much talking…and well like Sharon said I haven’t used my degree yet so I don’t feel like a doctor. I got licensed in six different states because I thought after this year I could try to get a job with the Pro Rodeo Sports guys that follow the men’s Professional Rodeo Association events. That way I could travel and give dad and Sharon a chance to…you know. I’m ashamed to tell you, I really don’t like her.”
He laughed out loud, “Oh honey, I have news for you, no one likes her. She’s shallow, superficial and thought your dad was an easy mark. She probably threw herself at him every moment she could until he was overwhelmed. He won’t tell you but he was thinking with his dick. She may have big tits, probably fake ones, but she’s not the forever type. I’m surprised it took your dad this long to figure it out.”
She looked like she was trying not to laugh but she couldn’t hold it in and they ended up laughing so hard they almost fell into the swimming pool.
“Enough Dakota…I need to go take a shower and go feed my horse. And don’t give me that look, Dakota; I’ll meet you down here in an hour.”
He smiled, “You know me so well. Okay… for now, but you know it’s just a matter of time. I want you bad Georgia. Don’t be surprised if I don’t put you over my shoulder and take you to my room soon,” he leaned down and gave her a quick but thorough kiss. “I need to see if Cameron has fed his horse yet anyway. He probably has. If your horse is feeling okay, maybe we can go for a ride around the facility.”
“I’d like that.” She kissed him again and left to go to her room.
***
The water was running over Georgia’s head washing away her shampoo that smelled like oranges. She used the hotel’s deluxe body soap and was washing her breasts. God they feel so tender. Every time Dakota had kissed her yesterday and today, her nipples had hardened and she felt a rush of moisture to her vagina. Dam
n sexy cowboy, she thought. He was really getting under her skin. She didn’t know how much longer she could hold out. She must be a slut because they had only been back together for one day and she was panting and acting like she was an animal in heat.
She touched her clit and moaned at how swollen she was. Closing her eyes she remembered what it was like to have Dakota inside her. Big and full, so complete…so perfect. Her fingers rubbed back and forth and her other hand went to her breasts to pinch and rub her breasts. She didn’t realize how turned on she was and it only took a few minutes of pleasuring herself to come. Not as good as it had been with Dakota. She felt ashamed of succumbing to her self-indulgence.
Maybe it was time for her to start acting like a mature woman. She didn’t want to be like all the other women he had had. She wanted to be special to him, but who was she fooling? He was like a walking testament to mankind. Women were just drawn to him. Even when they were walking in the casino women stopped him and asked for his autograph and flirted with him like she wasn’t even there. He gave them his autograph, but didn’t encourage them. Still she knew as soon as he got bored with her he’d be back to all the fast sexy women who were drooling all over him.
Could she be happy with a stolen week with him before she went back to the awful loneliness she had felt before? He seemed to be making an effort to court her. He seemed sincere. Even her dad liked him, but was she setting herself up for disappointment? So many questions. Maybe if she just threw caution to the wind and accepted all that he wanted to give her this week, she would either win him over or she would learn a hard lesson. The worse that could happen was that she only got to know him for this wonderful week. Her mom used to tell her if she didn’t ‘take’ the chance she would never even ‘have’ a chance to win. That was why Georgia had taken a year off before going to work so she could compete with her horse.
She got out of the shower and dried off, put on lotion and blew dry her hair. Because they were going to the concert tonight, she wanted to come back later and change into evening attire. The only regret that she had yesterday was that she should have dressed up for the evening. She would make sure and allow herself time to do that this evening. Usually she didn’t care what she looked like, but she wanted to look nice for Dakota. Thinking about the way he looked at her made her smile.
Her phone binged that she had a text. It was from Sharon. Your so called boyfriend doesn’t wait two minutes after you left to be getting it on with another woman. Wise up Georgia, you aren’t good enough for him. She looked at the photo and her heart hitched a little. There was a photo of Dakota hugging another woman and the look on his face was one of contentment.
Damn…Damn…Damn. Her heart broke a little. Don’t be a dope; you hate it when people jump to conclusions. Ask him about it. If she was going to try to have a relationship with this man, she needed to be able to communicate with him. She always hated reading the romance novels where the heroine assumed the worse and didn’t talk to her man. She just ran away. If there was one thing about Georgia, she was no coward.
She finished getting dressed and went to find Dakota. When she exited the elevator he was already there in his western attire with a smile on his face. However when he looked at her face he asked, “What’s wrong?”
Grabbing his hand she pulled him out of the crowd to a group of chairs where she sat down. “Can you tell me about this photo?” She tried not to sound whinny or accusing. She just wanted to know.
“Who sent you this,” he asked angrily.
“Sharon.”
“I should have known. This is Trudy, one of my best friend’s wife. She is six months pregnant but you can’t tell from this photo. If I saw your step-mom right now I would wring her neck.” He read the text that accompanied the picture. “I am not too good for you. If anything I am not good enough for you, but I’m not giving you up without a fight. You do know that right?”
Georgia smiled at him, and he pressed his lips gently against her mouth. Oh he felt good. He was definitely worth taking a chance with and she was looking forward to spending another day with him.
A flash went off and Georgia and Dakota broke apart quickly. Cameron was standing there with his camera and a big grim. “Hi, Georgia. Now I know why my brother ditched me yesterday. Good to see you again,” she stood up and he gave her a quick hug.
“Of course I remember you, we met at Cody’s retirement party in Cheyenne. Nice to see you again.”
“Yeah, I remember him whisking you away pretty quick that evening, too. I hope my brother has been behaving himself.”
She laughed. “You know your brother so well.”
Dakota gave his brother an easy shove. “Be nice or I won’t let you join us this evening for the concert.”
“Fat chance of that, I’ve got the tickets.”
“Point taken. We were about to go over and check on the horses. You feed Freddy yet?”
“No, I’ll go with you. Don’t have to start work for a little while.”
Georgia studied the good looking brothers as they walked with her in between them. They were joking with each other and it felt nice to be sandwiched between his brother and Dakota. Of course, Dakota had taken her hand and pulled her a little closer to him than Cameron; which she thought was cute. Both of them were incredibly tall and sexy as all get out. As she talked with Cameron she realized he wasn’t as talkative as Dakota and a maybe even a little shy. Nice qualities that she would normally be attracted to, but then she looked at Dakota and well duh…Sex on a stick. She was so ready to lick this cowboy and rub her naked body all over him.
Dakota looked at her and she blushed. He smiled knowingly. Could he read her mind? She tried to look away but he leaned down and whispered, “We have the motor home/horse trailer with us at the Mack center? You want to join me and tell me about that sexy smile? You looked like you were going to eat me up.”
She bit her lip and then she kissed Dakota on his cheek. “I’ll let you know when you can carry me over your shoulder,” she teased.
“Soon I hope,” his voice sounded husky and confident, and a little urgent.
There was no question in her mind, the time was here and there would be no going back. She wanted to cross her fingers that she was making the right decision.
The three of them walked across the last street and Cameron slowed down. Dakota looked at him questionably and looked up to see a cute woman with a blond ponytail walking briskly toward them. Dakota raised his eyebrows to Cameron.
“Long story,” he whispered to Dakota.
She walked right up to them. “Well if it isn’t Mr. Rodeo man turned writer. I suppose you are trying to steal another one of my stories again?”
“You didn’t own that story, Kate.”
She whipped her waist long ponytail behind her head. “I had been working on it for two months and you jump in and write the story in like a day. I still don’t know how you got all the information so quick. Well, Cameron, have a nice day,” she glared bullets at him. She said hello to Dakota and Georgia and stormed off.
“Oh it looks like you crashed and burned on that one.” Dakota put his arm around his brother mockingly.
If looks could kill Cameron was about to put his fist through his big brother’s nose. “That woman is stubborn, obnoxious, and too good looking.”
Dakota laughed. “I detect a little interest in your fellow writer.”
“Not in a million years. She is a hellion.”
“Yeah, yeah,”
They entered the corrals and Dakota walked with Georgia over to her horse. She pulled a sugar cube from her jean’s pocket and gave it to him and she nuzzled his nose. “How’s my boy doing today?” She opened the gate and smoothed her hand over his back and hind quarter to let him feel her touch, and then she leaned down and ran her hand down his leg. The swelling wasn’t completely down, but it wasn’t as hot to the touch as it had been yesterday. She smiled up at Dakota.
He stood there by the fence with a pleased
look on his face. “You look…good. I like seeing you being a horsewoman.”
She giggled. “And how does a horsewoman look?”
“Like you’re in your natural environment. You look happy. I remember the first time I saw you with your saddle on your hip and the sexy swing to your walk. I think you were born to be a cowgirl.”
She closed the gate and got out some grain and put it in his bucket. She had been thinking about what Dakota said. “I don’t know about the sexy walk, those saddles are heavy, but I do think I’m happiest when I’m on the ranch or with my horse.”
They both quickly cleaned out the stall and Dakota got him some fresh water.
He took her hand and they walked over to where Cameron was feeding Freddie. “Do you want to ride him? He could use a little exercise,” Cameron asked.
Dakota looked at Georgia. “You can ride ‘em, I’m thinking I need to give Damian another day to rest his leg. It’s still slightly swollen.”
“After Freddy eats, you and I can ride him bareback around the ring a few times. He’ll like having your legs wrapped around his middle.”
“Cowboy, I can’t think of anything I’d like better,” she laughed.
“I’m wounded. I may have to help you change your mind about alternatives to enjoy… besides a horse,” he pinched her butt teasingly.
“When you two get through flirting with each other, let’s walk over to the Sport’s center so I can see if anyone is injured I need to report about,” Cameron mocked them.
“That’s a great idea, Cameron. I’ve been meaning to drop by and see John Witting. He’s the lead Doctor at this event. I sent him my job resume and he said I should drop by and meet him. He’s been really nice to me on the phone. I’m anxious to meet him.”
At the Sport center, Dr. Witting looked up and saw them. He came over to greet them. “Hi, Georgia Cooper, right? You’re much prettier than the picture you sent.”
Dakota scowled and looked jealous. Wow, she hadn’t seen that coming.
